What a Nimrod!

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Scripture

Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth.
(Genesis 10:8 NASB)
He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.”
(Genesis 10:9 NASB)

Observation

For years I have heard the word "Nimrod" used as a derogatory term such as, "He is such a Nimrod!" A political commentator used the term on television the other day. However, here in the book of Genesis we find the original Nimrod. Nimrod is one of the great-grandchildren of Noah. He is mighty and becomes a great hunter before the Lord. The only things that are said about this man are good. How is it that we take things that are good, and we make them into something bad?

Application

We humans are good at wanting to believe the worst in others. Here's a very case in point where history has literally been overturned by the negative use of someone's name. It makes me think about the destructive power of the human tongue. If we can destroy, without question, the reputation of a man who is written about in the Bible, what can we do to others around us? It's far too easy to share and spread the negative things about others than it is to remember the positive.

Today I'd like to remember the positive things about Nimrod and work at changing his reputation. Actually -- I'd like to be a Nimrod! I would like to live a life that is glorifying to God so that at the end of the day he can say that I have been a good and faithful servant. I'd like to be a mighty one of this earth -- not because of my own abilities, but rather, because my life glorifies God, who is mighty. And I'd love to be a mighty hunter before the Lord -- a hunter who participates with God in his activity on this earth, reaching out to seek and to save those who are lost.
What a joy it would be to be a Nimrod!

Prayer

Lord, help me to be a Nimrod for you. Amen.

Comments

  1. Carla SunbergJanuary 4, 2012 at 5:14 AM

    ...it is true that Nimrod's name has been associated with the building of the tower of Babel through extra-Biblical sources. However, we must ask whether those are true, or is it just rumor. Has his reputation been ruined by outside sources, some of which say he's a good man, some of which say he's a bad man.

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